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June 27, 2017

Today’s Mantra…How to START Achieving Your Dreams

Why is it that the biggest struggle we all face in life time and time again is just STARTING? Or maybe you can START to achieve whatever your dream is, but you struggle with the follow through.

I figured now is a good time to address the fear and anxiety that comes with starting, given that I just spoke to you all about QUITTING and asking for help. Timing seemed right, ya know?

I don’t know about you, but I’m really good at planning shit that never really ever comes to fruition. I have all of these ideas running through my mind that I can’t WAIT to develop. I make it super far, to the point where I’ve whipped out my credit card to buy all of the BS equipment/ permit/ license/ whatever the Internet deemed important for the task that I had my sights set on…and then, nothing.

I fart out before bringing the project to the light of day. Blog posts sit in my drafts for legit YEARS (true story, I’m looking at my drafts right now and shaking my head) and other ventures are stuck in a holding pattern just waiting for me to hit the big green GO button. Literally, all I have to do is start and yet…

Why the hesitation? Well…because who likes failure? The “what ifs” run rampant through my mind…

What if it’s a flop?

What if people HATE my idea?

What if it just never takes off?

What if this is a colossal waste of time?!

I know that you’ve been there, we all have. The trick to starting comes with overcoming that creeping feeling of anxiety and finally just taking. the. plunge.

Clearly, I’m no expert when it comes to doling out advice but I’ve learned over the past few months that sometimes you just need to stop and step back. Sounds stupid, and impossible…but once you’re able to identify and turn off that little voice of doubt in your mind, you’d feel way more in control and maybe have a bit more courage to start really pushing forward to accomplishing your dream.

Trust me, you’ll come up with a thousand and one excuses as to why you shouldn’t do something if you let your mind really run away from you.

We can be our own worst critics sometimes, and that fear of not wanting to fail can be crippling your ambition to start. If you catch yourself doubting your ability to do anything, take a minute to step back from the details and zoom out to observe the bigger picture.

Breathe. Take a minute to center on your breath and focus on inhaling positivity and exhaling the fear that is probably gripping your heart

Ask yourself why. Why are you avoiding taking the plunge? What is the root of your fear?

Call someone and ask for a compliment. I’m not kidding, pick up your phone and call your mom/dad/brother/boyfriend/girlfriend/cat and just ask them to say something nice to you because you really need to hear it. That boost of confidence will remind you that you are hot sh*t and that you DO have a network of people rallying behind you, excited to support you once you do start moving forward

Take baby steps towards your goal. No need to go whole-hog all at once, but one little step forward makes a big difference in the grand scheme of life

It seems so straightforward, but I know that it’s anything but. Listen, I can’t stress enough that relying on your network can make all of the difference in the world. Even if you don’t have a traditional network of family or friends to help support you in reaching your dreams, there are online communities dedicated to support that are just as good. Seek out a helping hand, confidence will come with camaraderie!!

Drop a note in the comments if you have any advice on what YOU do to start reaching for and accomplishing your dreams, or how you’re able to shut up that little voice of doubt. Everyone deals differently and I’m all about learning new coping mechanisms 🙂